Animals

July 30, 2015

Well as usual, we’re about to embark on a long overdue summer vacation. But before we do, we thought we’d share our Top 10 List for a fun time this summer. OK maybe not exactly “fun.” But safe.

1. If you own a Ram pickup truck, or a Dodge or Chrysler SUV, your vehicle might have defective steering! Fear not. Under a government deal that Fiat Chrysler just struck with regulators (including a record $105 million fine), the company has to buy back your vehicle. So get on that right now!

3. Speaking of the Today Show and cars, this morning the program featured a segment about your rights in a traffic stop. Apparently you do have to turn over license, registration and insurance information. You do have to get out of the car if asked. You don’t have to let police search your car without cause. On the other hand, if you are “driving while black,” a whole set of otherterrible things can happen. Here’s an interesting App, to provide those "targeted for traffic stops [with] helpful information and tools to improve traffic stop experiences, safety, accountability and justice.”

4. Meanwhile, if you find yourself in need of a hospital this summer (hopefully not due to a car crash or excessive police force), Consumer Reports’ new hospital ratings might provide some guidance – at least if you have any choice of hospital! But also know that you’ll have a hard time finding out whether your hospital has enough nurses, a major safety indicator. Indeed, a new report “by New Yorkers for Patient & Family Empowerment found Syracuse's Upstate University Hospital is the only major hospital in the state that posts nurse-to-patient ratios for its various units on its website.” I’m sure New York isn't unusual.

5. Nurses don’t get the respect they should. Nor do Uber drivers. (See our earlier piece.) During your next Uber ride this summer, ask they driver if he or she receives any benefits from the $50 billion company they work for. Hint: they don’t. No benefits, no days off. No wonder protests against Uber continue worldwide.

6. And whether you prefer Uber or taxis, if you find yourself in New York City, don’t let either of them take you to New York’s LaGuardia Airport – at least until 2021 when the new $4 billion makeover is complete. It’s a mess over there. Find another airport.

8. Who knows how many will be flocking to Winsted Connecticut for the September 26 opening of the American Museum of Tort Law. Better buy your bus ticket now!

9. And if you are looking for a good read, we can’t recommend enough this page-turner: Watchdogs and Whistleblowers: A Reference Guide to Consumer Activism. It's an $89 book but here you can read the most important chapter – the one about the role (and history) of consumer activism fighting “tort reform.”

10. Can’t think of anything else. So just have fun. We’ll be back before you know it.

June 19, 2012

We’re just getting started this week (you may notice here and there that we’ll be taking some time off this summer). But already, the number of stories about animal mistreatment are way too frequent for my taste. For example, when was the last time you heard of someone (allegedly) killing his poodle by punching it in the face? Former "NYPD Blue" writer Ted Shuttleworth was arrested over the weekend for this. It’s said that he “punched the 4 1/2 pound poodle, named Lola … after becoming annoyed with it.”

On a much larger scale, there are the elephants - Billy, Tina and Jewel – at Griffith Park Zoo's "Elephants of Asia" exhibit in LA. Trial began yesterday over their alleged mistreatment. The plaintiff’s attorney opened with the statement that “the exhibit was so cramped that it was like stuffing a ‘blue whale in the equivalent of a goldfish bowl,’ and the ground so hard that it wore down the animals’ joints and feet.” The city denies this and is fighting the case.

On the other hand, as to the residents of the Bat World Sanctuary, a jury was apparently so convinced that the bats were not being mistreated that it awarded $6.1 million against a former intern, who had launched an internet campaign against the sanctuary and its founder alleging “horrific allegations of animal cruelty.”

And in a somewhat related story, it was widely reported today that ConAgra Foods Inc has been sued by consumers in Minnesota who say that hot dogs and other products sold under its Hebrew “we answer to a higher authority” National brand, actually aren't Kosher. While I’m no expert (or even know the facts behind the lawsuit), Kosher slaughtering is supposed to be “most humane method of slaughter possible.” So wonder what they’re doing?

On the other hand, not sure I want to know. (So glad I’m not on that jury.)

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